Chris Brunt nears 12-month contract extension at West Brom

The long-serving Baggies midfielder is currently under contract until the end of this season.

However, included in that deal signed last February is a 12-month extension based on appearances and Brunt is due to trigger it before the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has had some injury problems this campaign, but has made 13 appearances in the Premier League and has cemented his place in Alan Pardew’s first XI.

He played every single game of last season after signing the new deal on February 10.

If Brunt triggers his contract extension, next season will be his 12th at The Hawthorns following his £3.5million move from Sheffield Wednesday back in August 2007.

Brunt has played 359 times for the Baggies, putting him in the top 30 of the club’s all-time appearance makers. He can move into the top 25 this season.

The Northern Irishman is somewhat of a rarity in modern football, as players now move from club to club far more frequently.

Albion are hoping to sign a striker and an attacking midfielder before the January window shuts next Wednesday, but Brunt is not too concerned by the business.

“It’s no different to any other transfer window,” said Brunt. “Players come and go.

“As a squad you want to keep your best players to give you the best chance of winning football matches because we all want to win enough games to make sure we stay in the division at the end of the season.

“There’s a lot of speculation made of it in the media. Deadline day is a whole day on Sky Sports News these days but it’s no different for us.

“It’s part and parcel of the job and you pick up the pieces from whatever happens and get on with it.

“We’re all hoping to pull in the same direction and get enough points and win enough games to stay up.

“If that means new players coming in to help us do that then so be it and if not we’ve got more than enough here to make sure we stay in the league.”